Town tackles many issues at regular meeting, including storm damage

BETHLEHEM  A state grant that was secured several years ago will soon be making its way to the Town of Bethlehem.

The Town Board on Wednesday, Sept. 14, unanimously approved accepting the $3 million Capital Assistance Program grant agreement.

The money will be spent on forcemain and interceptor sewer improvements in North Bethlehem.

“There are restrictions in the sewer system that really precludes taking on additional flow from new projects, especially the Vista project,” said Town Engineer Paul Penman.

The grant was secured in 2008 through then-Assemblyman Tim Gordon's office. The administration process for the grant through the state Dormitory Authority was fairly extensive, said Bethlehem Supervisor Sam Messina, so it hasn't be ready to be approved until now.

There is no requirement for the town to put up any matching funds.

In other business:

Paving contract approved

The board voted 3-0 on Thursday, Sept. 15, to contract with Pietropaoli, Inc. in the amount of $34,450 to make paving improvements at the town's wastewater treatment plant on Dinmore Road.

Department of Public Works Deputy Commissioner Erik Deyoe called the condition of the pavement there “deplorable”and said it's a fix that needs to be made this season, not after the winter. Since highway crews have been tied up with cleanup of Tropical Storm Irene, it's doubtful they'd be able to make it to the project before the end of the work season.

“It's certainly within their capabilities, it's more of a scheduling issues,” Deyoe said.

The board considered the matter at its Wednesday meeting but decided to table the measure to the following evening's budget workshop after a member of the public questioned why the work had to be contracted out.

The following evening, Highway Superintendent Gregg Sagendorph told the board his department has laid 5,000 tons of paving material this season, while the average seasonal total is 11,000 tons.